After being directly confronted by a Norwegian journalist, India's spokesperson delivered a passionate 30-minute response, giving the EU a lesson!
In mid-May, Modi traveled to Oslo, Norway—the first time in 43 years that an Indian Prime Minister had set foot on this Nordic soil. Everything was going smoothly with contract signings and summit talks, until a press conference suddenly took a dramatic turn. The video of the exchange between Indian diplomats and a Norwegian journalist quickly went viral online.
According to reports from The Times of India and footage from the incident, the situation unfolded in a highly dramatic manner—journalist pressed hard, diplomat couldn’t hold back and responded aggressively, leaving the entire Europe utterly bewildered.
Helle Ring, a reporter from Norway’s Daily News, questioned Sibi George, Secretary of Western Affairs at India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Ring didn’t beat around the bush, firing off three direct questions: Why should India be trusted? Can it control domestic violations? Will Modi accept critical questioning in the future?
George’s performance left the entire EU speechless. He launched into a lengthy monologue right away. Instead of addressing specific cases, he presented four broad themes—India’s contributions to EU countries, its role in G20 diplomacy, India’s vast market potential, and its identity as an ancient civilization. He spoke for nearly half an hour, interspersed with multiple interruptions and counter-interruptions. His approach was essentially: You ask your questions, I’ll answer mine.
Under the audience, Helle Ring could no longer contain himself, stormed out in frustration. Clearly, European observers hadn’t anticipated that a simple follow-up question would be turned into a 30-minute showcase of civilization, India’s achievements, and self-praise. After all, sometimes only a tough opponent can match another tough one.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865688605626444/
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